State Senate Passes Domestic Worker Bill of Rights

New York moved one step closer on Tuesday toward becoming the first state to create a bill of rights for domestic workers.

With a vote of 33 to 28, the state Senate passed a bill granting an estimated 200,000 maids, nannies and other domestic workers the right to paid vacations, sick day, holidays and overtime.

“These basic protections, which most of us take for granted, will result in a dramatic improvement in the daily lives of workers,” said state Sen. Diane Savino, the bill’s sponsor.

The bill requires employers to give their workers a severance package or 14 days notice before firing them. It also gives workers legal protection from discrimination and permits them to sue their bosses in civil court.

The legislation would not cover au pairs, who have rights under federal legislation, or workers employed by third parties like home health care companies. Any other domestic attendant, employed by a single employer for at least 20 hours a week would be covered by the bill.

In the summer of 2009, the state Assembly passed its own domestic workers bill of rights. The two bodies will now reconcile their respective versions before presenting legislation to Gov. Paterson.